Additional Information
Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.
Deadline for Applications
June 12, 2026
Hardship Level
H (no hardship)
Family Type
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
PR3
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Professional
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date
2026-05-26
Standard Job Description
Data Policy Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The UNHCR Data Transformation Strategy 2020-2025 envisions that by 2025 UNHCR becomes a trusted leader on data and information related to refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons, thereby enabling actions to protect and to empower them. The strategy envisages data and information management functions in UNHCR carried out in a complementary and inter-linked manner between Headquarters Divisions and Services, Regional Bureaux, country operations and key external partners, including forcibly displaced and stateless persons. Global Data Service translates UNHCR's data vision and strategy into implementation across the organization, through direct and indirect service delivery, coordination and collaboration, and advocacy to and with internal and external UNHCR stakeholders.
The role of the Data Policy Officer is to support corporate efforts to provide guidance on UNHCR's collection, analysis, storage, and dissemination of operational data and information relating to forcibly displaced and stateless persons and their situation, including on data protection standards.
Regardless of the location of the positions, whether at Headquarters, regional or country levels, in close consultation with relevant Divisions and other entities, the incumbent drives the initiatives aimed at setting standards, policy, and guidance for data management and encourages development of secure and interoperable operational data systems for UNHCR agility and modernization. For HQ-based positions, the Data Policy Officer engages in reviewing and validating specialized operational data standards, policies and guidance proposed and drafted by respective subject-matter experts to ensure coherence and harmonization across UNHCR. The incumbent is a reference for coordination of the efforts to monitor compliance with operational data standards across different types of data systems and processes to inform future standard setting and policy enhancement, as well as ensuring the overall reliability of evidence for data informed decisions. In line with the above, the incumbent also advances the concept of data protection/privacy by design and by default. S/he acts as a technical advisor on the interoperability of data collected both internally and externally, and how to store and disseminate non-personal data responsibly to help establish an open data culture.
For HQs positions, in accordance with UNHCR's mandate, the incumbent supports the efforts of the Global Data Service for advocacy for the interests of UNHCR populations of concern and UNHCR as an institution in global interagency data coordination fora in collaboration with other Sections of the Global Data Service, relevant Divisions, entities and Regional Bureaux as required.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Unhcr · Copenhagen (hq), Denmark